**************Sumana And His Jasmine Flowers [ Translated by Dr. Sirikanya Sastri, a surgeon working for The US Airforce ]

This is a story of Sumana, a gifted florist. His daily ritual was to supply King Bimbisara of Rajagaha with jasmine flowers each morning. One day, he was traveling to the king's palace. He saw the Buddha with a halo of light radiating his entire body as he was coming into town for alms-food accompanied by many bhikkhus. The amazing image of Buddha in his resplendent glory compelled Sumana to offer his jasmine flowers to Him. Sumana decided at that moment that even if the king were to exile him out of the country or were to kill him, he would not offer jasmine flowers to the king that day. He respectfully adorned the Buddha with his jasmine flowers which remained suspended in the air. A canopy of flowers hovered over Buddha's head and the remaining flowers surrounded Buddha with walls of jasmine buds. These flowers moved with the Buddha like a fortress shield of jasmine. As the Buddha traveled through the town, a large entourage followed him in awe and with sincere respect and adoration. Thousands of people inside and outside of Rajagaha came out of their houses to pay respect to the Buddha. As for Sumana, his entire body was submerged in delightful satisfaction (Piti).

Sumana's wife was afraid that her husband's neglect would anger the king. So, she quickly begged the king to understand she has nothing to do with her husband's behavior. But the king, being a Sotapanna himself, was delighted to see how the flowers meant for him had been used to adorn the Buddha. He respectfully greeted the Buddha with respect and admiration by offering alms-food to the Buddha and his disciples. After the meal, the Buddha returned to the Jetavana monastery with the king escorting him safely. Once the king returned to his palace, he rewarded Sumana with eight elephants, eight horses, eight male slaves, eight female slaves, eight maidens and eight thousand in cash.

At the Jetavana monastery, Ananda thera asked the Buddha what benefits Sumana would gain by his good deed done on that day. The Buddha answered that Sumana, having given to the Buddha without any consideration for his life, would not be born in any of the four lower worlds (Apaya) for the next one hundred thousand world. And he eventually would become a paccekabuddha. As the Buddha entered the Perfumed Hall (Gandhakuti) the flowers fell down to the ground and decorated the path of the Buddha.